A London-bound Air India aircraft crashed shortly after taking off near the Ahmedabad airport.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had 242 people on board - 230 passengers, 10 crew members and two pilots. There were no reports of survivors being found.
Videos show the plane struggling to gain altitude before it begins losing lift (upward force that allows an aircraft to stay airborne) and crashes, resulting in a thick willow of smoke emanating from the area.
According to details shared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1:39 pm from runway 23 and crashed in just five minutes after take off.
As per reports, the aircraft crashed into residential quarters of BJ Medical College doctors in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area. Immediately post the crash, local residents rushed to the area to help with rescue efforts.
Soon after the incident, all flight operations at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport were temporarily suspended. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to investigate the tragic event.
In the wake of the heartbreaking accident, India’s star cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma took to social media and mourned the loss of lives in the plane crash.
“Shocked to hear about the plane crash at Ahmedabad today. Praying for all those affected and thoughts with their families,” Kohli wrote on his Instagram story.
On the other hand, Rohit wrote: “Really sad and disturbing news from Ahmedabad. Prayers for all the lives lost and their families."